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By Catherine Erbicella, University of Scranton Student Correspondent
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Published: May 19, 2014

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Digital image: Courtesy of The University of Scranton
Harold Koening, M.D., one of the world’s top experts on religion and health, speaks to area physicians and medical professionals attending The University of Scranton’s fourth annual Conference on Aging.

Harold Koening, M.D., one of the world’s top experts on religion and health, discussed “Religion, Spirituality and Health in Later Life: Research and Clinical Applications” at The University of Scranton’s fourth annual Conference on Aging. More than 100 medical professionals attended the conference that was held in April on campus.

“When asked about how they were coping with their illnesses, many speak of their faith,” said Dr. Koenig. “So that struck me and started a bit of a journey to understand that better.”

According to Dr. Koenig’s research among patients over age 60 at Duke University Hospital, Durham, N.C., he has found that 40% of patients said that religion was the most important factor in their coping mechanisms. He cited a theoretical model of causal pathways to determine how these beliefs result in a better, healthier outlook. He claims that belief in God translates to practice of religious rituals, which can develop psychological traits and virtues. Those traits, in turn, have an impact emotions and social connections which can lead to better health.

His newest research focuses on how these practices may have a biological impact on people’s health by studying telomere length in the DNA of caregivers. Dr. Koenig posits that religion can help the telomeres (a compound structure at the end of a chromosome) shorten slower, thus lengthening the amount of time on one’s “biological clock.”

“Women who are under high stress lost between nine to 17 years of their lifespan based on the telomere shortening,” said Dr. Koenig, citing an article in a medical professional publication.

His second study-in-process posits that religious practice can be integrated into psychotherapy to counteract major depressive disorder. Such practices help provide meaning, relate to healthy behaviors, satisfy spiritual needs and positively impact medical decisions.

Dr. Koenig closed with a list of guidelines and consequences for health care professionals who wish to integrate religious and spiritual practices in their medical practices. He promoted taking a spiritual history of one’s patients in order to decide a plan of action for meeting spiritual needs. Although this process has its challenges, the rewards can be greater than the limitations, according to Dr. Koenig.

Citing studies from Harvard, he said, “It can be very expensive, not addressing spiritual needs.” Religious people whose needs are not being met are more likely to use more end-of-life resources that those whose needs were being met.

Dr. Koenig serves on the faculty at Duke University as professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate professor of medicine, as well as the director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Heath. He earned his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco, and his geriatric medicine, psychiatry, and biostatistics training at Duke University Medical Center.

Chaired by Herber Hauser, Ph.D., research scientist, and Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at The University of Scranton, this year’s Conference focused on “New Perspectives on Aging and Eldercare: Restorative, Medical, Spiritual.” Gregory Basting, M.D., Allied Services Integrated Health Systems; Anthony Balsamo, M.D., Geisinger Medical Center; and Christian Krokus, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology at the University, served as leaders for conference tracks in restorative, medical and spiritual care, respectively. LIFE Geisinger was co-chair for the public track of the conference. Geisinger Health System sponsored the conference’s continuing education component and Allied Services Integrated Health Systems was a key supporting partner of the conference.

In addition the University, the conference was a collaborative effort among The Commonwealth Medical College, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Marywood University and Penn State Worthington. Additional supporters of the conference were Affinity LTC, Allied Services, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Brucelli Advertising, CareGivers of America, Geisinger Health System and Senior Healthcare Solutions.

Catherine Erbicella ’14, Media, is a management major with a minor in philosophy and participant in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the Business Leadership Honors Program at The University of Scranton.

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